Oyster middle school- english option?

[Anonymous]

Tracking is the natural answer. This outright refusing to address the needs of advanced students is precisely the reason so many of us prefer Deal.

Spanish-language instruction is a fine thing, but it cannot excuse an overall lack of rigor. Boosters (most with younger children) challenging us with a "love it or leave it" attitude inhibit meaningful change, and now we can no longer simply leave for Deal.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the PP, by that age kids need to have different levels of instruction available. It should be feasible. And it is a shame if Oyster parents are actually against it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the PP, by that age kids need to have different levels of instruction available. It should be feasible. And it is a shame if Oyster parents are actually against it.

Actually, I'm the Oyster parent who is happy that Deal is no longer an option AND I advocate math tracking at Oyster. I would not leave Oyster for Deal in order to take Geometry in 8th instead of Algebra. As I said up thread, I would leave my child at Oyster and find a way for DC to take geometry (via pull-out, summer school, etc). Moving to Deal, and giving up immersion, is very short-sighted IMO. It's like throwing out the baby with the bath water. Hopefully, under the new principal, Oyster families won't have to be faced with this dilemma.

[Anonymous]

I essentially agree with PP. Math aside, I think Adams is more academically challenging than Deal specially now that Spanish grammar is also being taught. Students have 3 years of Chinese AND immersion in Spanish. Deal does not come close to that. At best, Deal can offer on extra course in math. I would not change Oyster for Deal. I will figure out how DC can get the extra math at Oyster. No way DC would get an extra language by going to Deal.

[Anonymous]

i would think the oyster Adams pta could donate enough to hire an extra math teacher. Sounds like there is interest!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i would think the oyster Adams pta could donate enough to hire an extra math teacher. Sounds like there is interest!

Why not? The OCC (Oyster's PTA) already pays for its music teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i would think the oyster Adams pta could donate enough to hire an extra math teacher. Sounds like there is interest!

Why not? The OCC (Oyster's PTA) already pays for its music teacher.

The OCC already subsidizes afterschool tutoring overtime pay for teachers and for coaching sessions for the SWW HS math exam. There are 3 middle school math teachers for less than 190 students.

Paying for another math teacher won't do anything if the existing structure isn't functioning. The new principal, who was a G&T student, has middle school background and is big on differentiation. There is absolutely no excuse for parents to have to pick up the slack in math.

The OCC is supposed to pay for things that DCPS does not provide even though, IMHO, it's ridiculous that they do not. Like an elementary music teacher for a campus of more than 300 students. The OCC pays for a part-time music teacher for the elementary campus. We also pay for a part-time bilingual special education coordinator to handle the compliance and organization of a function that used to be a shambles. We previously paid for an award-winning science teacher for elementary because, again, DCPS didn't pay for the role.

There is a larger question of whether math should be taught in Spanish to begin with since kids are tested so much in English and the on-line tools are all in English. Personally, the language doesn't seem to impact my bilingual, bi-literate kids. Sometimes they say it's annoying to code switch, but that's the whole point of dual immersion. But a lot of parents, and even some of the elementary teachers, are complaining about the common core and DCPS scope and sequence.

Change has definitely come to O-A at the administrative and teaching levels. To compete with other MS options, the school needs to rely less on families supplementing (sometimes undermining) learning that's supposed to be happening in school.

We're in elementary. I'm giving it two years, tops to see some sustainable, meaning not heavily dependent on parents, improvement or we're taking our "involved" family to a school that will do its job.

[Anonymous]

Wow, thanks for that input 10:48. Helpful for those that don't really understand the challenges for that school.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone from Oyster provide a list of (lower school) open houses for the fall? I checked the school's website, but it still lists 2011-2012 open houses. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i would think the oyster Adams pta could donate enough to hire an extra math teacher. Sounds like there is interest!

Why not? The OCC (Oyster's PTA) already pays for its music teacher.

The OCC already subsidizes afterschool tutoring overtime pay for teachers and for coaching sessions for the SWW HS math exam. There are 3 middle school math teachers for less than 190 students.

Paying for another math teacher won't do anything if the existing structure isn't functioning. The new principal, who was a G&T student, has middle school background and is big on differentiation. There is absolutely no excuse for parents to have to pick up the slack in math.

The OCC is supposed to pay for things that DCPS does not provide even though, IMHO, it's ridiculous that they do not. Like an elementary music teacher for a campus of more than 300 students. The OCC pays for a part-time music teacher for the elementary campus. We also pay for a part-time bilingual special education coordinator to handle the compliance and organization of a function that used to be a shambles. We previously paid for an award-winning science teacher for elementary because, again, DCPS didn't pay for the role.

There is a larger question of whether math should be taught in Spanish to begin with since kids are tested so much in English and the on-line tools are all in English. Personally, the language doesn't seem to impact my bilingual, bi-literate kids. Sometimes they say it's annoying to code switch, but that's the whole point of dual immersion. But a lot of parents, and even some of the elementary teachers, are complaining about the common core and DCPS scope and sequence.

Change has definitely come to O-A at the administrative and teaching levels. To compete with other MS options, the school needs to rely less on families supplementing (sometimes undermining) learning that's supposed to be happening in school.

We're in elementary. I'm giving it two years, tops to see some sustainable, meaning not heavily dependent on parents, improvement or we're taking our "involved" family to a school that will do its job.

Thanks for this insight. I am the mom of a K student at Oyster, so I really don't know what's going on in the middle school. If there are 3 middle school math teachers, I agree that one can be spared to teach advanced math for 6th through 8th graders. Oyster's PTA operates with a $600,000 budget, but parents should not be expected to pony up when resources/teachers are currently available. Goodness knows I'm tired already of the constant fundraising at Oyster.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone from the school comment on whether there are plans at add advanced math? Is the new principal addressing this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone from the school comment on whether there are plans at add advanced math? Is the new principal addressing this?

The principal has promised, on several occasions, to introduce consistent rigor at all grades levels. She has specifically spoken about increasing differentiation in math (due to persistent questions/pressure from parents). However, she has said that she will not introduce major changes this year because she wants to observe what works/doesn't work first. I have to say, she is always popping into classrooms and observing during the school day (according to my DC). Principal Canizales even knew my K's name by about the middle of September. She is under a lot of pressure, and Oyster's parents are VERY demanding...in two languages. I think that she is doing a wonderful job so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i would think the oyster Adams pta could donate enough to hire an extra math teacher. Sounds like there is interest!

Why not? The OCC (Oyster's PTA) already pays for its music teacher.

The OCC already subsidizes afterschool tutoring overtime pay for teachers and for coaching sessions for the SWW HS math exam. There are 3 middle school math teachers for less than 190 students.

Paying for another math teacher won't do anything if the existing structure isn't functioning. The new principal, who was a G&T student, has middle school background and is big on differentiation. There is absolutely no excuse for parents to have to pick up the slack in math.

The OCC is supposed to pay for things that DCPS does not provide even though, IMHO, it's ridiculous that they do not. Like an elementary music teacher for a campus of more than 300 students. The OCC pays for a part-time music teacher for the elementary campus. We also pay for a part-time bilingual special education coordinator to handle the compliance and organization of a function that used to be a shambles. We previously paid for an award-winning science teacher for elementary because, again, DCPS didn't pay for the role.

There is a larger question of whether math should be taught in Spanish to begin with since kids are tested so much in English and the on-line tools are all in English. Personally, the language doesn't seem to impact my bilingual, bi-literate kids. Sometimes they say it's annoying to code switch, but that's the whole point of dual immersion. But a lot of parents, and even some of the elementary teachers, are complaining about the common core and DCPS scope and sequence.

Change has definitely come to O-A at the administrative and teaching levels. To compete with other MS options, the school needs to rely less on families supplementing (sometimes undermining) learning that's supposed to be happening in school.

We're in elementary. I'm giving it two years, tops to see some sustainable, meaning not heavily dependent on parents, improvement or we're taking our "involved" family to a school that will do its job.

Thanks for this insight. I am the mom of a K student at Oyster, so I really don't know what's going on in the middle school. If there are 3 middle school math teachers, I agree that one can be spared to teach advanced math for 6th through 8th graders. Oyster's PTA operates with a $600,000 budget, but parents should not be expected to pony up when resources/teachers are currently available. Goodness knows I'm tired already of the constant fundraising at Oyster.

That is almost $1000 per student. How is this accomplished - all parents, or money from outside sources?

[Anonymous]

Thanks for this insight. I am the mom of a K student at Oyster, so I really don't know what's going on in the middle school. If there are 3 middle school math teachers, I agree that one can be spared to teach advanced math for 6th through 8th graders. Oyster's PTA operates with a $600,000 budget, but parents should not be expected to pony up when resources/teachers are currently available. Goodness knows I'm tired already of the constant fundraising at Oyster.



That is almost $1000 per student. How is this accomplished - all parents, or money from outside sources?

The OCC budget less than $300K. Maybe PP thinks we are Janney.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Thanks for this insight. I am the mom of a K student at Oyster, so I really don't know what's going on in the middle school. If there are 3 middle school math teachers, I agree that one can be spared to teach advanced math for 6th through 8th graders. Oyster's PTA operates with a $600,000 budget, but parents should not be expected to pony up when resources/teachers are currently available. Goodness knows I'm tired already of the constant fundraising at Oyster.



That is almost $1000 per student. How is this accomplished - all parents, or money from outside sources?

The OCC budget less than $300K. Maybe PP thinks we are Janney.

I went to the OCC meeting last week. The OCC Chair (I can't remember her name), said that the budget was $600k--her words, not mine. Take it up with her.